PINK1/Parkin-Independent Mitophagy Bypass for Enhanced Donor Mitochondria

**Background and Rationale** Intercellular mitochondrial transfer has emerged as a fundamental mechanism of cellular rescue in the central nervous system, representing a paradigm shift in our understanding of how cells respond to bioenergetic crises. Astrocytes donate functional mitochondria to neurons after ischemic, excitotoxic, or degenerative insults through CD38-dependent extracellular vesicle release and connexin-43-mediated tunneling nanotubes. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) also transfer...